Use the resources available to you to research the links between the precious metals, gold and silver, and their technological uses.
Gold’s Unique Properties
Dense soft deep yellow metal
Chemical symbol – Au – (Aurum – Latin, meaning “Glowing Dawn”
Abundance in earths crust (0.004ppm approximately)
Nearly twice as heavy as lead
Ductile and very malleable (gold leaf to 0.0001mm thickness
Not subject to oxidation or corrosion
Special chemical characteristics mean gold retains its lustre indefinitely
Gold is permanent and it can be recycled
Melting point 1,065°C, boiling point 2,860°C
Gold can be buried, squashed, melted or mixed with other metals. It is still Gold
The list below outlines some uses for gold and silver. Some are historic or traditional and some are modern. Select a range of statements and find out as much as you can about them.
Gold helps your digital radio alarm clock to wake you in the morning
Gold helps you call someone on the telephone
Photochromatic lenses in glasses turn a darker colour because of gold
You flick a switch and the lights come on because of gold
Windows in high rise buildings use gold reflective glass (cool in summer, warm in winter)
Gold is used in TV sets
A microwave oven uses gold to cook your dinner
Gold and silver for jewellery
Gold and silver for investment
Gold and silver in coins
Arthritis is treated with gold injections
Serious burns are treated with silver
Dentists use gold and silver
Gold helps to relay millions of messages through microchips in computers
Silver is used to develop prints in photography
Silver is used to make x-ray and photographic films
Satellites use gold to send messages around the world
Radars use gold to navigate ships and planes
A film of gold protects a fireman’s face from heat
Gold is used to line an astronaut’s suit
Gold is used in space to protect equipment from solar radiation
Gold is used in the treatment of several forms of cancer
Gold leaf is used to treat ulcers
Gold was used to decorate the tombs of ancient Egyptian pharoahs
Silver is used in long-life batteries for watches, cameras, hearing aids, calculators
Silver is used to reflect light in mirrors
Silver helps to make cut flowers last longer in a vase
Silver can be seeded into cloud to make rain
Swimming pool filters use silver to clean the water
Silver is used to purify drinking water
Microwave cookware has a silver coating to brown or crisp food
Gold was used to adorn temples
Gold and silver are used as decoration on cups, saucers and plates
Gold and silver for cutlery
Gold is used to decorate leather on diaries, albums and other precious books
Use the resources available to you to research the links between the precious metals, gold and silver, and their technological uses.
Gold’s Unique Properties
The list below outlines some uses for gold and silver. Some are historic or traditional and some are modern. Select a range of statements and find out as much as you can about them.
Gold helps your digital radio alarm clock to wake you in the morning
Gold helps you call someone on the telephone
Photochromatic lenses in glasses turn a darker colour because of gold
You flick a switch and the lights come on because of gold
Windows in high rise buildings use gold reflective glass (cool in summer, warm in winter)
Gold is used in TV sets
A microwave oven uses gold to cook your dinner
Gold and silver for jewellery
Gold and silver for investment
Gold and silver in coins
Arthritis is treated with gold injections
Serious burns are treated with silver
Dentists use gold and silver
Gold helps to relay millions of messages through microchips in computers
Silver is used to develop prints in photography
Silver is used to make x-ray and photographic films
Satellites use gold to send messages around the world
Radars use gold to navigate ships and planes
A film of gold protects a fireman’s face from heat
Gold is used to line an astronaut’s suit
Gold is used in space to protect equipment from solar radiation
Gold is used in the treatment of several forms of cancer
Gold leaf is used to treat ulcers
Gold was used to decorate the tombs of ancient Egyptian pharoahs
Silver is used in long-life batteries for watches, cameras, hearing aids, calculators
Silver is used to reflect light in mirrors
Silver helps to make cut flowers last longer in a vase
Silver can be seeded into cloud to make rain
Swimming pool filters use silver to clean the water
Silver is used to purify drinking water
Microwave cookware has a silver coating to brown or crisp food
Gold was used to adorn temples
Gold and silver are used as decoration on cups, saucers and plates
Gold and silver for cutlery
Gold is used to decorate leather on diaries, albums and other precious books